Since 1947, Dana-Farber's sole focus has been to provide expert cancer care and groundbreaking treatments for adult and pediatric patients.
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Inc has paired cancer research with community support through large, recurring grants in Boston and Cambridge. Its biggest recent awards went to the City of Boston for Community Support, with grants of $1,651,544 in 2025, $1,611,263 in 2024, and $1,571,964 in 2023. The institute also made major research grants to Harvard University, including $1,433,691 in 2025 for Cancer Research and Development and similarly sized awards in the prior two years. That mix shows a funder that supports both scientific work and the local systems around patients and families. The grant record also includes steady support for community organizations in Greater Boston, such as Green Roots, Alternative for Community and Environment with MPHA, FamilyAid Boston, and Project Bread. Those awards sit alongside grants to health and patient-focused groups like Whittier Street Health Center and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Inc. The pattern fits the institute’s long-running focus on cancer care, research, clinical trials, patient support services, and community health.
In cancer research and development, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Inc gave $1,433,691 in 2025 to Harvard University for Cancer Research and Development, following similarly sized grants in 2024 and 2023. That is one of the clearest signals that research support is a recurring part of its grantmaking. For community support, the institute awarded $200,000 to Green Roots in 2024 for Community Support and another $200,000 to Alternative for Community and Environment with MPHA in 2024 for the same purpose. It also funded FamilyAid Boston, Project Bread, and Whittier Street Health Center, showing attention to food access, housing-related support, and community health. The portfolio also includes grants tied to neighborhood organizations such as Sociedad Latina Inc, Enhance Asian Community on Health, Brookview House Inc, and Inquilinos Boricuas En Accion Inc, all in Massachusetts. These awards suggest a local emphasis on community health and support services.
Grant sizes cluster at a few common levels: p25 is $10,000, median is $20,000, and p75 is $50,000. That sits alongside a small number of much larger awards to major institutional partners. The recent record shows repeat recipients across multiple years, including the City of Boston, Harvard University, Green Roots, and Project Bread, which points to recurring support rather than one-off grants. Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Inc is a Pure DAF Provider, does not fund individuals, and does not make program-related investments. The record also shows thematic and restricted support tied to specific purposes.
$12.5M
$5.3B
$3.5B
$3.4B
Most grants fall between $10K and $50K, with a median of $20K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$20K
75th Percentile
$50K
About 74% of grants go to recipients in FL.
Laurie H Glimcher MD
Trustee, President & CEO
Sign up for a free Kindora account to access AI-generated insights into this funder's giving patterns, decision-makers, and fit signals.
Get Started FreeFree Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeSign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits this funder, get an AI-generated pitch, and unlock similar foundations.
Grantmaking is strongly Massachusetts-centered: 74% of grants go to recipients in MA. Boston appears repeatedly, along with Cambridge, Chelsea, Roxbury, East Boston, Dorchester, and Allston Brighton. Outside Massachusetts, the top state by grant count is Florida, indicating some regional reach beyond the HQ state. The recipient-country distribution is entirely domestic, with 84 grants in the US and none elsewhere in the data provided.
Its grant record centers on cancer research and development, community support, patient support services, community health, and related local health needs. Recent awards include major research funding to Harvard University and community support grants to Boston-area organizations serving neighborhoods such as Chelsea, Roxbury, East Boston, and Dorchester.
The grant-size distribution is $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $20,000 at the median, and $50,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent records also include larger institutional awards above $1.4 million and many community grants in the $50,000 to $200,000 range.
Yes. The recent grant list includes multiple recipients across more than one year, including the City of Boston, Harvard University, Green Roots, and Project Bread. That pattern suggests ongoing relationships rather than isolated awards.
Massachusetts receives 74% of grants, and the recent list is concentrated in Boston, Cambridge, Chelsea, Roxbury, East Boston, Dorchester, and Allston Brighton. Florida is the top state by grant count outside the HQ state distribution detail.
No. The foundation is classified as a Pure DAF Provider and funds organizations rather than individuals. The recent grants are all made to institutions, nonprofits, and public entities such as the City of Boston, Harvard University, and community-based organizations.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CITY OF BOSTON | Boston, MA | $1,651,544 | 2025 | Community Support |
| HARVARD UNIVERSITY | Cambridge, MA | $1,433,691 | 2025 | Cancer Research and Development |
| Alternative for Community and Environment with MPHA | Roxbury, MA | $200,000 | 2025 | Community Support |
| FamilyAid Boston | Boston, MA | $181,362 | 2025 | Community Support |
| BOSTON ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION | BOSTON, MA | $130,000 | 2025 | Community Support |
| Green Roots | Chelsea, MA | $100,000 | 2025 | Community Support |
| Project Bread | East Boston, MA | $99,834 | 2025 | Community Support |
| FRIENDS OF DANA FARBER | Boston, MA | $50,000 | 2025 | Cancer Research and Development |
| LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA SOCIETY INC | WHITE PLANES, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | Cancer Research and Development |
| PROSTATE HEALTH EDUCATION NETWORK INC | Quincy, MA | $30,000 | 2025 | Cancer Research and Development |
| TEAM MAUREEN | NORTH Falmouth, MA | $30,000 | 2025 | Community Support |
| ONCOLOGY NURSING FOUNDATION | PITTSBURGH, PA | $21,000 | 2025 | Cancer Research and Development |
| THE BREAST CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2025 | Cancer Research and Development |
| ROXBURY COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION | ROXBURY, MA | $15,000 | 2025 | Community Support |
| ELLIE FUND INC | NEEDHAM, MA | $12,500 | 2025 | Community Support |
| UNITED NEGRO COLLEGE FUND INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2025 | Community Support |
| CANCER RESEARCH INSTITUTE | New York, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | Cancer Research and Development |
| FORCE FACING OUR RISK OF CANCER EMPOWERED | TAMPA, FL | $10,000 | 2025 | Community Support |
| CRISTO REY BOSTON HIGH SCHOOL INC | BOSTON, MA | $10,000 | 2025 | Community Support |
| 2LIFE COMMUNITIES INC | BRIGHTON, MA | $10,000 | 2025 | Community Support |
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY | Atlanta, GA | $10,000 | 2025 | Cancer Research and Development |
| NEHI INC | BOSTON, MA | $10,000 | 2025 | Community Support |
| SUSAN G KOMEN BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION | DALLAS, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | Cancer Research and Development |
| MASSACHUSETTS LEAGUE OF COMMUNITY | BOSTON, MA | $10,000 | 2025 | Community Support |
| SUMMER SEARCH | OAKLAND, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | Community Support |
| JOE ANDRUZZI FOUNDATION INC | NORTH ATTLEBORO, MA | $10,000 | 2025 | Cancer Research and Development |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF BOSTON | BOSTON, MA | $7,500 | 2025 | Community Support |
| MASSACHUSETTS PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION | BOSTON, MA | $7,500 | 2025 | Community Support |
| NATIONAL CANCER CENTER INC | WEST ISLIP, NY | $7,000 | 2025 | Cancer Research and Development |
| HEALTH CARE FOR ALL | BOSTON, MA | $6,000 | 2025 | Community Support |
| CITY OF BOSTON | Boston, MA | $1,611,263 | 2024 | Community Support |
| HARVARD UNIVERSITY | Cambridge, MA | $1,416,716 | 2024 | Cancer Research and Devlp |
| Alternative for Community and Environment with MPHA | Roxbury, MA | $200,000 | 2024 | Community Support |
| Green Roots | Chelsea, MA | $200,000 | 2024 | Community Support |
| BOSTON ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION | BOSTON, MA | $150,000 | 2024 | Community Support |
| WHITTIER STREET HEALTH CENTER | Roxbury, MA | $67,318 | 2024 | Community Support |
| LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA SOCIETY INC | WHITE PLANES, NY | $50,000 | 2024 | Cancer Research and Devlp |
| FRIENDS OF DANA-FARBER | Boston, MA | $50,000 | 2024 | Cancer Research and Devlp |
| PROSTATE HEALTH EDUCATION NETWORK INC | Quincy, MA | $30,000 | 2024 | Cancer Research and Devlp |
| SWIM ACROSS AMERICA INC | Charlotte, NC | $25,000 | 2024 | Cancer Research and Devlp |
| COLORECTAL CANCER ALLIANCE INC | Washington, DC | $20,000 | 2024 | Cancer Research and Devlp |
| MASSACHUSETTS LEAGUE OF COMMUNITY | Boston, MA | $20,000 | 2024 | Community Support |
| COMMUNITY SERVINGS INC | Jamaica Plain, MA | $15,000 | 2024 | Community Support |
| BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE CAREERS PROGRAM INC | BRAINTREE, MA | $15,000 | 2024 | Community Support |
| ROXBURY COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION INC | ROXBURY, MA | $15,000 | 2024 | Community Support |
| SUSAN G KOMEN NEW ENGLAND | Dallas, TX | $10,000 | 2024 | Cancer Research and Devlp |
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY | Atlanta, GA | $10,000 | 2024 | Cancer Research and Devlp |
| UNION CAPITAL BOSTON INC | ROXBURY, MA | $10,000 | 2024 | Community Support |
| THE BREAST CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2024 | Cancer Research and Devlp |
| HEALTH CARE FOR ALL | BOSTON, MA | $10,000 | 2024 | Community Support |
CITY OF BOSTON
$1,651,544Community Support
HARVARD UNIVERSITY
$1,433,691Cancer Research and Development
Alternative for Community and Environment with MPHA
$200,000Community Support
FamilyAid Boston
$181,362Community Support
BOSTON ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
$130,000Community Support
Green Roots
$100,000Community Support
Project Bread
$99,834Community Support
FRIENDS OF DANA FARBER
$50,000Cancer Research and Development
LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA SOCIETY INC
$50,000Cancer Research and Development
PROSTATE HEALTH EDUCATION NETWORK INC
$30,000Cancer Research and Development
TEAM MAUREEN
$30,000Community Support
ONCOLOGY NURSING FOUNDATION
$21,000Cancer Research and Development
THE BREAST CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION
$15,000Cancer Research and Development
ROXBURY COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION
$15,000Community Support
ELLIE FUND INC
$12,500Community Support
UNITED NEGRO COLLEGE FUND INC
$10,000Community Support
CANCER RESEARCH INSTITUTE
$10,000Cancer Research and Development
FORCE FACING OUR RISK OF CANCER EMPOWERED
$10,000Community Support
CRISTO REY BOSTON HIGH SCHOOL INC
$10,000Community Support
2LIFE COMMUNITIES INC
$10,000Community Support
AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY
$10,000Cancer Research and Development
NEHI INC
$10,000Community Support
SUSAN G KOMEN BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION
$10,000Cancer Research and Development
MASSACHUSETTS LEAGUE OF COMMUNITY
$10,000Community Support
SUMMER SEARCH
$10,000Community Support
JOE ANDRUZZI FOUNDATION INC
$10,000Cancer Research and Development
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF BOSTON
$7,500Community Support
MASSACHUSETTS PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION
$7,500Community Support
NATIONAL CANCER CENTER INC
$7,000Cancer Research and Development
HEALTH CARE FOR ALL
$6,000Community Support
CITY OF BOSTON
$1,611,263Community Support
HARVARD UNIVERSITY
$1,416,716Cancer Research and Devlp
Alternative for Community and Environment with MPHA
$200,000Community Support
Green Roots
$200,000Community Support
BOSTON ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
$150,000Community Support
WHITTIER STREET HEALTH CENTER
$67,318Community Support
LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA SOCIETY INC
$50,000Cancer Research and Devlp
FRIENDS OF DANA-FARBER
$50,000Cancer Research and Devlp
PROSTATE HEALTH EDUCATION NETWORK INC
$30,000Cancer Research and Devlp
SWIM ACROSS AMERICA INC
$25,000Cancer Research and Devlp
COLORECTAL CANCER ALLIANCE INC
$20,000Cancer Research and Devlp
MASSACHUSETTS LEAGUE OF COMMUNITY
$20,000Community Support
COMMUNITY SERVINGS INC
$15,000Community Support
BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE CAREERS PROGRAM INC
$15,000Community Support
ROXBURY COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION INC
$15,000Community Support
SUSAN G KOMEN NEW ENGLAND
$10,000Cancer Research and Devlp
AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY
$10,000Cancer Research and Devlp
UNION CAPITAL BOSTON INC
$10,000Community Support
THE BREAST CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION
$10,000Cancer Research and Devlp
HEALTH CARE FOR ALL
$10,000Community Support